Two meaningful takeaways from Kia’s 2020 Seltos SX, an urbanely-styled compact SUV that looks like it’s simultaneously trying to give Land Rover’s new Defender and Subaru’s Forester a run for their money. First, the fairly-inexpensive Seltos is packed with technology in a fashion similar to which Japanese automakers became renowned in the 1980s. Second, nobody looking at it would believe how lovely this thing rides.
For a shade less than $30,000, the Seltos has a 1.6-L turbocharged and direct-injected 4-cylinder engine, a 7-speed (wet) dual-clutch automated-manual transmission, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, even LED headlights. Then there’s an expansive suite of advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) technology and top-line electronic and driver-interface features, including a vivid 10-inch central touchscreen. The cabin is the electronics match for vehicles costing twice as much. The only trade-off? Virtually all the touchable plastics are vividly low-rent.
Equally amazing is that this small SUV, which Kia said is meant for the paper-thin white space between its funky Soul and the mainstream Sportage, has the supple and confident damping of a luxury sedan. There’s pothole-smothering absorbency – itself a rare attribute for anything “compact” – yet more-than-acceptable body control when you engage a backroads workout for the 175 hp the turbocharged 1.6-L manufactures. We were blown away time and again by the Seltos’ utter disregard for every kind of bad road surface.
1 day ago 2021 Kia Seltos Kia. RELATED: What the 2021 Kia Soul Has in Common With the Porsche 911 For 2021 Kia Seltos made between Nov. 20, 2019, through Oct. 15, 2020, and 2020-2021 Kia Soul units made between Nov. 24, 2018, through Oct. 24, 2020, these models will most likely see damage from these improperly heat-treated engines. The new 2021 Kia Seltos compact SUV has various color options available for each trim. See them all and get an estimated price from a dealer near you today! 2020 Kia Seltos first drive review: This little SUV will be big Kia's plugging another gap in the increasingly crowded crossover-SUV market, adding a new choice in the undersized all-rounder class. 2020 Kia Soul The way to get a solid subcompact crossover for even less money than the Seltos is to get an even smaller Kia. That’s the Soul, whose space, comfort, and refinement mopped the floor.
We wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the off-road abilities of this decidedly car-like wagon-thing and after taking in the hard-plastic cabin fittings, you wouldn’t be wrong in suggesting the near-$30,000 price is pushing it, regardless of the Seltos SX’s extensive content. But the wide dynamic capabilities of the 2020 Seltos SX – particularly its creamy-but-capable ride – put it at the top of the segment.
2020 Kia Seltos SX Turbo AWD
Base price: $27,890
As tested: $29,485
Highs: High-quality ride; premium driveline and electronic tech
Lows: Downmarket cabin materials; small 1.6-L is soft at the upper end of the tach
Takeaway: Offbeat but enticing package reminiscent of 1980s Japanese cars.
Continue reading » When it arrives this winter, the 2021 Kia Seltos small crossover will net up to 31 mpg combined, according to the EPA, and cost $2,000 less than the compact Sportage—even with all-wheel drive on the base model, which other automakers usually charge more for.
Kia this week announced the 2021 Seltos would cost $23,110, including mandatory destination changes, for a base LX trim with a 146-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 that drives all four wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
The Seltos LX also includes 17-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, an 8.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, one USB port, and power features. The Seltos also gets Kia's superlative new-car warranty for 5 years/60,000 miles but base cars critically lack automatic emergency braking, which is becoming nearly universal among other mainstream automakers' small crossovers.
According to EPA ratings released last week, base Seltos LX crossovers manage 27 mpg city, 31 highway, 29 combined. With front-wheel drive drive, the Seltos rates 29/34/31 mpg.
The Seltos S and EX both rely on the base 2.0-liter inline-4 for propulsion, but add more creature comforts compared to the base version. Seltos S models add synthetic leather upholstery, but add blue-contrast interior stitching and can be fitted with an uprated 175-hp 1.6-liter turbo-4, 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive for better performance. Seltos EX models upgrade to leather upholstery, a sunroof, but stand pat with the base engine. Both trims critically add automatic emergency braking and active lane control. Kia didn't say how much either trim level costs when it goes on sale.
The top-of-the-line Seltos SX adds the uprated turbo-4, more standard active safety features including blind-spot monitors and adaptive cruise control, leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment. The EPA rates the Seltos at 25/30/27 mpg with the uprated turbo-4.
2020 Kia Crossover Seltos Interior
Ost d gray man. We expect to know more, including its price, early next month.
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2020 Kia Seltos Suv